Sewing

Tutorial: Simple Lined Zipper Pouch with Pocket

17:40:00 theskyisstarless 0 Comments

I've made a number of these for friends and family over the years because they are so quick and simple to make and a great way to use those ends of fabric that seem to accumulate. This pouch has an optional pocket and is fully lined. This is the finished pouch being used as either a make-up bag or a pencil case.


To make this pouch you will need:
  • A piece of patterned fabric. I used a Liberty fat quarter.
  • A piece of matching/contrasting fabric. I used black lining fabric.
  • A matching/contrasting zip. I used an 8 inch long zip.
  • Matching/contrasting thread.















1. I started by cutting my fabric into pieces with dimensions 8.5 by 6.5 inches. These dimensions can be altered depending on the length of your zip and how long you want your pouch to be. Add 0.5 inches to the length of your zip to get the width measurement.















2. You should end up with 2 pieces of outer and 2 pieces of lining fabric.











3. Place the patterned fabric right-side up. Unzip the zip so that the zipper is in the middle. Line up the zip across the top of the fabric with the metal/plastic parts at 1/4 inch from the edge.









4. Pin the lining fabric to the zip and to the patterned fabric with right-sides together.









5. Sew using a 1/4 inch seam allowance. When you reach the zipper, leave the needle down and lift the machine's foot. Move the zipper to the sewn part and sew the rest of the zip. Press and then top-stitch the zip as shown.









6. From each of the fabrics cut a piece with dimensions 8.5 by 3.5 inches or adjusted to your chosen dimensions. These pieces will be used to create the pocket.





7. Pin right-sides together and sew with a 1/4 inch seam allowance across one edge. Fold over and press. Top-stitch.





8. Line up the pocket with the edge of the other piece of patterned fabric. Sew all around the edges of the pocket with an 1/8 inch seam allowance.












9. Sew this other piece of fabric along with the lining to the zip in the same way as was done with the other side. Press and top-stitch.











10. Match the right-sides of the patterned fabric together and pin around the edge. Make sure that the zipper is in the centre of the zip and that the teeth of the zip are pointing away from the patterned fabric pieces. Sew all around the edge from the top stitching-seams using a 1/2 inch seam allowance.





11. Pin the lining fabric together and sew from the teeth of the zip around the edge with the same seam allowance but leave a gap to turn it inside out.










12. Turn the pouch inside out.









13. Make sure the corners are fully pushed out. Slip stitch the opening in the lining fabric closed and press the pouch. I hand-stitched 1 cm down the centre of the pocket to prevent things from falling out or you could perhaps use a button.







You can add whatever you like to this pouch. You could try making it bigger for a laptop-case, adding zipped pockets or adding embellishments like lace-ribbon to make it more personalised.
I hope you have fun making this!

Love Rhiannon x

You Might Also Like

0 Comments: